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The Department of Justice on Tuesday released nearly 30,000 pages of documents related to disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein. This is the latest batch of documents to be released since the DOJ began publishing files on Dec. 19.

The files include a number of revelations, including a psychological assessments from Epstein’s time in prison, a fake passport and his cellmate’s testimony about witnessing the financier’s first apparent suicide attempt. The newly released pages also include a claim made by an unidentified Epstein accuser who said that former President Bill Clinton’s name was used as a way to deter her from coming forward.

Here are some of the top takeaways.

Prison psychology report shows Epstein was deemed ‘low risk’ for suicide days before his death

A Bureau of Prisons psychological assessment released Tuesday by the DOJ showed Epstein was considered to be at ‘low’ acute suicide risk and showed no signs of suicidal ideation just days before his death, according to internal prison records.

The suicide risk assessment, conducted on July 9, 2019, states Epstein was placed on precautionary psychological observation due to the high-profile nature of his case and not because he expressed intent to self-harm.

‘Inmate Epstein adamantly denied any suicidal ideation, intention or plan,’ the chief psychologist wrote in the assessment.

The psychologist noted Epstein appeared ‘polite, calm, and cooperative’ during the evaluation, with ‘organized and coherent’ thoughts and no signs of acute psychological distress. Additionally, the psychologist documented Epstein saying that ‘being alive is fun,’ describing himself as a banker with a ‘big business,’ and expressing confidence in his legal defense.

The report concluded that ‘the Overall Acute Suicide Risk for this Inmate is: Low,’ and, ‘A suicide watch is not warranted at this time.’

Newly shared Bureau of Prisons records shed fresh light on what Epstein’s cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, says he witnessed during the disgraced financier’s first apparent suicide attempt while in federal custody.

‘I was asleep with headphones on when I felt something hit my legs,’ Tartaglione said, according to the memo.

‘I turned on the light and saw Epstein on the floor with something around his neck,’ he told investigators, adding that Epstein appeared unresponsive.

The records state Tartaglione immediately called for help after discovering Epstein on the ground. Correctional officers responded, and Epstein was taken for medical evaluation. Officials later described the incident as an apparent suicide attempt.

The documents also note that Epstein later accused Tartaglione of trying to kill him, a claim Tartaglione flatly denied.

‘That allegation is completely false,’ Tartaglione told investigators. Additionally, Bureau of Prisons officials said there was no evidence to support Epstein’s claim.

Epstein was later removed from the cell and placed under closer observation before his death weeks later in what was ruled a suicide.

Tartaglione was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in 2024 for killing four people, according to prior reporting from Fox News Digital.

Epstein accuser said Clinton’s name was used to deter her from coming forward

A woman who accused Epstein of sexual misconduct said she was warned that his ties to former President Bill Clinton could prevent her from working if she spoke out, according to a sworn attorney-released statement in Tuesday’s DOJ document dump.

In the statement, dated August 27, 2019, the woman identified as Jane Doe alleged that after fleeing an encounter with Epstein at his Manhattan mansion, another woman cautioned her that Epstein ‘knew a lot of powerful people, including Bill Clinton,’ and that refusing him could end her career in the modeling industry.

The accuser said she believed the reference to influential figures was meant to intimidate her and discourage her from coming forward.

The statement does not allege that Clinton participated in or had knowledge of the alleged encounter. Clinton has previously denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein’s fake passport revealed

The latest documents also include a fake passport that Epstein apparently used in the 1980s. The passport appeared to be issued from Austria, with Epstein going by the name ‘Marius Robert Fortelni.’ It listed Saudi Arabia as his place of residence. 

In a 2019 letter to a federal judge over his detention on sex trafficking charges, Epstein’s lawyers justified his use of a false identity. 

‘Eighth, as for the Austrian passport the government trumpets, it expired 32 years ago,’ his attorneys said in the letter. ‘And the government offers nothing to suggest — and certainly no evidence — that Epstein ever used it.’ 

‘In any case, Epstein – an affluent member of the Jewish faith – acquired the passport in the 1980s, when hijackings were prevalent, in connection to Middle East travel,’ the letter continued. ‘The passport was for personal protection in the event of travel to dangerous areas, only to be presented to potential kidnappers, hijackers or terrorists should violent episodes occur.’

Epstein requested ‘razor to shave,’ complained of lack of water weeks before death, document shows

Documents indicate that Epstein requested a razor to shave while in federal custody just weeks before his death, while also raising a series of complaints about his detention conditions.

In a July 30, 2019 internal communication labeled ‘Inmate Epstein,’ Epstein asked for a razor and requested access to water during attorney conferences, saying the available machine ‘does not have water’ and that he was becoming dehydrated, according to the document.

The same email notes Epstein claimed he did not receive all of his prescribed medications after being placed on psychological observation, and said he had not slept well in 21 days due to the absence of his CPAP machine. Epstein also complained about noise in the Special Housing Unit, warning he could suffer ‘psychological trauma’ from the conditions.

Fox News’ Bill Mears contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

President Trump has faced unprecedented lawfare, including four indictments, two impeachments and countless lawsuits aimed at keeping him from power, confiscating his wealth and even putting him in prison for life. The most stark example? The FBI’s August 2022 raid of his Mar-a-Lago property. This week, we learned that even FBI agents did not believe there was probable cause for the sham raid.

The Fourth Amendment is fundamental to our Republic. The government cannot search or seize one’s home, office, papers or person without probable cause. Usually, authorities must obtain a search warrant prior to searching or seizing.

When the raid on Mar-a-Lago became public, lawfare opponents were horrified, for we had crossed the Rubicon. FBI agents rummaged through Trump’s personal effects and took his passport. They staged photos of folders supposedly containing classified information haphazardly strewn about and the Justice Department under then-President Biden released them to the media to cast Trump in a negative light.

The material in question consisted of records that Trump was allowed to maintain under the Presidential Records Act. A battle started between Trump and the National Archives, which wanted some of the documents. Biden’s White House Deputy Counsel Jonathan Su waived executive privilege, allowing the Biden Justice Department to begin an investigation. The Justice Department obtained a warrant to search for and seize the records, and Trump was indicted for allegedly unlawful retention of classified materials the following year.

The entire process was corrupt. First, the records were under Secret Service protection. Former presidents receive federal funds for secure office space so that they can maintain classified records. Former presidents, prior to Biden’s disgraceful decision to lock out Trump, were entitled to receive classified intelligence briefings. Trump allowed government officials to come to Mar-a-Lago to view the records and was opposed only to turning them over.

Second, the motive for the return of the records had nothing to do with security concerns. Trump had many records concerning Operation Crossfire Hurricane, the official name for the Obama-Clinton Russian Collusion Hoax. The 2016 campaign of Hillary Clinton cooked up the claim that Trump colluded with Russia to hack Clinton’s emails. Trump sued Clinton and the Democratic National Committee based on the Russia investigation.

Third, the warrant was a sham because the magistrate was not neutral and detached. Magistrate Judge Bruce Rinehart of the Southern District of Florida signed the warrant. Just six weeks earlier, Rinehart had recused himself from the Trump/Clinton lawsuit. The reason was obvious: Rinehart, while a civilian in 2017, had written a Facebook post viciously bashing Trump. The Biden Justice Department ran to a blatantly biased judge in order to procure the warrant.

This week, through documents released by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, we learned that even agents in the FBI’s Washington Field Office did not think that probable cause existed for the raid. The involvement of the Washington Field Office itself is scandalous. The alleged crime occurred in the Southern District of Florida. Yet, Biden special counsel Jack Smith used a D.C. grand jury to obtain subpoenas. D.C. voted for Trump’s opponents at a clip of 90% or more during the last three elections. Smith also went to shamelessly leftist D.C. Chief District Judges Beryl Howell and James Boasberg to obtain favorable rulings. Smith only indicted Trump in the Southern District of Florida because he feared that a D.C. conviction would get reversed over improper venue.

Florida District Judge Aileen Cannon invalidated Smith’s appointment on constitutional grounds. Then, Trump won a decisive electoral victory last November, and Smith ended his ignominious witch hunt, fleeing back to Europe.

The lawfare waged against Trump, his aides, his supporters, and even members of Congress, most blatant during Operation Arctic Frost, where nearly a dozen senators had their phone records seized, threatened to destroy the Republic. The lawfare perpetrators failed, however, and it is time for legal accountability in the form of an indictment for conspiracy against rights pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 241.

The government searched a former president’s home without probable cause to seize records in order to protect a corrupt former presidential candidate and to end the future political prospects of Trump. And the government procured the search warrant from a biased judicial disgrace who had no business anywhere near any case involving Trump. What occurred is a stain on the judiciary and the nation. Justice must, and will, come.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Following his team’s win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 23, the Cardinals’ coach appears to have removed his name from the mix for the head coach opening at Michigan when asked by Alexis Cubit of the Louisville Courier-Journal — part of the USA TODAY Network — about his name being linked to the Wolverines.

‘I don’t speak on other jobs. I’m happy with this one and we are going to enjoy the victory,’ Brohm said following the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 23.

Dec. 23’s win in the Boca Raton Bowl marked the 28th career win for Brohm at his alma mater and closed his third season at Louisville with a 9-4 overall record. The Cardinals have finished with a winning record and with at least nine wins in each season under Brohm.

Brohm’s name has been thrown in the mix of names for the opening at Michigan, which opened on Wednesday, Dec. 10 following the abrupt firing of Sherrone Moore with cause. On3’s Pete Nakos reported on Tuesday, Dec. 23 that Brohm’s name has become one of interest in Michigan’s search for Moore’s replacement.

Moore was fired by Michigan on Dec. 10 after a university investigation found ‘credible evidence’ of Moore having been ‘engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.’ The ex-Wolverines coach was arrested on the same day and later charged with home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering on Friday, Dec. 12.

As previously reported by USA TODAY, Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press — part of the USA TODAY Network — reported on Monday, Dec. 22 that Wolverines interim coach Biff Poggi told reporters during a Citrus Bowl media appearance that athletic director Warde Manuel told the team he hopes to have a new coach in place between Christmas and the Wolverines’ bowl game against Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Thanksgiving is behind us but that’s not stopping the NFL from having a holiday triple-header. Once again, the league is holding three games as millions of Americans celebrate a holiday, this time on Christmas.

The NFL’s triple-header on Christmas is still a new concept for football fans. The league avoided the holiday for decades with one brief exception in 1971 for the divisional round of the playoffs.

In 1989, the NFL held a Christmas Day game because the holiday fell on a Monday. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Cincinnati Bengals 29-21 to end an 18-year drought on the holiday.

Over the next 30 years, the NFL played a total of 19 games on Christmas. The league traditionally avoided the holiday but that changed in recent times.

The NFL had a Christmas game in 2020 then expanded to multiple games the year after and kept that pace ever since. Here’s a look at the results of every Christmas Day NFL game:

NFL Christmas history, results

1971 (Divisional playoffs)

  • Dallas Cowboys 20-12Minnesota Vikings
  • Miami Dolphins 27-24 (2OT)Kansas City Chiefs

1989

  • Minnesota Vikings 29-21Cincinnati Bengals

1993

  • Houston Oilers 10-7San Francisco 49ers

1994

  • Miami Dolphins 27-20Detroit Lions

1995

  • Dallas Cowboys 37-13Arizona Cardinals

1999

  • Denver Broncos 17-7Detroit Lions

2000

  • Tennessee Titans 31-0 Dallas Cowboys

2004

  • Kansas City Chiefs 31-30 Oakland Raiders
  • Denver Broncos 37-16 Tennessee Titans

2005

  • Chicago Bears 24-17Green Bay Packers
  • Baltimore Ravens 30-23 Minnesota Vikings

2006

  • Philadelphia Eagles 23-7 Dallas Cowboys
  • New York Jets 13-10 Miami Dolphins

2009

  • San Diego Chargers 42-17 Tennessee Titans

2010

  • Arizona Cardinals 27-26 Dallas Cowboys

2011

  • Green Bay Packers 35-21 Chicago Bears

2016

  • Pittsburgh Steelers 31-27 Baltimore Ravens
  • Kansas City Chiefs 33-10 Denver Broncos

2017

  • Pittsburgh Steelers 34-6 Houston Texans
  • Philadelphia Eagles 19-10 Oakland Raiders

2020

  • New Orleans Saints 52-33 Minnesota Vikings

2021

  • Green Bay Packers 24-22 Cleveland Browns
  • Indianapolis Colts 22-16 Arizona Cardinals

2022

  • Green Bay Packers 26-20 Miami Dolphins
  • Los Angeles Rams 51-14 Denver Broncos
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-16 (OT) Arizona Cardinals

2023

  • Las Vegas Raiders 20-14 Kansas City Chiefs
  • Philadelphia Eagles 33-25 New York Giants
  • Baltimore Ravens 33-19 San Francisco 49ers

2024

  • Kansas City Chiefs 29-10 Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Baltimore Ravens 31-2 Houston Texans

2025

  • Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET, Netflix
  • Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions, 4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix
  • Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

No holiday gift guide needed for the NFL. The league knew exactly what to get its fans: more football games to watch during the holidays.

Exactly four weeks after a Thanksgiving triple-header, the NFL is putting on a triple-header of Christmas Day games in 2025. It’s the third time in the last four years that there will be three pro football games on Dec. 25, with last year’s Wednesday double-header standing as the lone exception.

Three games mean six teams facing off on the holiday this year. Here’s which teams are playing on Christmas in 2025 and how to watch each game:

NFL Christmas games

There are three games kicking off throughout the day on Christmas this year. Here’s which teams are playing and when each game starts:

All times Eastern.

  • Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders: 1 p.m.
  • Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings: 4:30 p.m.
  • Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs: 8:20 p.m.

Where to watch NFL Christmas games

All times Eastern.

  • Live stream:
    • Cowboys at Commanders: Netflix, 1 p.m.
    • Lions at Vikings: Netflix, 4:30 p.m.
    • Broncos at Chiefs: Amazon Prime Video, 8:20 p.m.

Only fans living in the local markets of the six teams playing on Christmas will be able to watch one of the games on cable television.

Here’s where those fans can tune in on Dec. 25:

  • TV channels:
    • Dallas: KTVT (CBS Channel 11)
    • Washington, DC: WUSA (CBS Channel 9)
    • Detroit: WWJ-TV (CBS 62 in Detroit)
    • Minneapolis/St. Paul: WCCO-CBS
    • Denver: KMGH (ABC Denver7)
    • Kansas City: KSHB (NBC Channel 41)

NFL fans living in the U.S. will be able to live stream all three games on Christmas, provided they have subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Netflix will stream both of the early games live on Christmas.

NFL fans in the United States outside of the competing teams’ markets will need to sign into their Netflix account – or subscribe to the streaming service – to watch. Both matchups will be available with any Netflix plan.

After the early games, fans will need to switch over to Amazon Prime Video, the same streaming service that owns rights to ‘Thursday Night Football.’ The Chiefs vs. Broncos game will kick off in the prime-time slot on Christmas Day.

The NFL will also stream the three games on its premium subscription service, NFL+, on mobile devices.

Commanders vs. Cowboys on Christmas

  • Matchup: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders
  • Location: Landover, Maryland
  • Venue: Northwest Stadium
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET

The first matchup of the day is a divisional clash between two teams already eliminated from playoff contention. The Cowboys and Commanders have nothing to play for besides pride and draft position in their second head-to-head meeting of the year. Dallas won the first matchup at home, 44-22, on Oct. 19.

Vikings vs. Lions on Christmas

  • Matchup: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
  • Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium
  • Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

The latter two Christmas clashes are also both divisional matchups. The mid-afternoon game is the second and final game on Netflix on the holiday, and it features a Lions team fighting for its playoff life visiting a Vikings squad that has already been eliminated from contention.

Chiefs vs. Broncos on Christmas

  • Matchup: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
  • Location: Kansas City, Missouri
  • Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
  • Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

If, before the season, one heard that the final Christmas game would include a team fighting for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and another that had already be eliminated, one might expect the Chiefs to be the former and the Broncos to be the latter. Instead, it’s the opposite. Denver can clinch the top spot in the AFC with a win over the reigning AFC champions on Christmas.

NFL playoff picture

Here’s how the AFC and NFC stack up entering Week 17:

AFC

  1. Denver Broncos (12-3; AFC West leaders)*
  2. New England Patriots (12-3; AFC East leaders)*
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4; AFC South leaders)
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6; AFC North leaders)
  5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4; wild card No. 1)
  6. Buffalo Bills (11-4; wild card No. 2)
  7. Houston Texans (10-5; wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (8-7); Baltimore Ravens (7-8)

* Denotes team that has clinched a playoff berth.

Eliminated: Kansas City Chiefs (6-9); Miami Dolphins (6-9); Cincinnati Bengals (5-10); New York Jets (3-12); Cleveland Browns (3-12); Tennessee Titans (3-12); Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)

NFC

  1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3; NFC West leaders)*
  2. Chicago Bears (11-4; NFC North leaders)*
  3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5; NFC East leaders)*
  4. Carolina Panthers (8-7; NFC South leaders)
  5. Los Angeles Rams (11-4; wild card No. 1)*
  6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4; wild card No. 2)*
  7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1; wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions (8-7); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)

Asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff berth.

Eliminated: Minnesota Vikings (7-8); Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1); Atlanta Falcons (6-9); New Orleans Saints (5-10); Washington Commanders (4-11); Arizona Cardinals (3-12); New York Giants (2-13)

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

  • A letter allegedly from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar was included in a recent Justice Department document release.
  • The letter’s authenticity is questionable as it was postmarked in Virginia three days after Epstein’s death in New York.
  • Both Epstein and Nassar were convicted of sex crimes involving young women and girls.

(This story has been updated to include new information that the FBI is calling the letter a fake.)

The FBI is calling a letter alleged to be from Jeffrey Epstein to disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar a fake.

The letter was among the more than 29,000 documents released by the Justice Department on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for assaulting the young athletes he treated while working for both USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. He was sentenced to 40 years to 125 years in another Michigan county, plus 60 years on federal child pornography charges.

The Department of Justice initially said it was investigating the authenticity of the handwritten letter. Later it put out a statement that the FBI was calling the letter a fake. Among the reasons:

  • The writing does not appear to match Jeffrey Epstein’s.
  • The letter was postmarked three days after Epstein’s death out of Northern Virginia, when he was jailed in New York.
  • The return address did not list the jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail.

The latest batch of material from the Justice Department’s Epstein investigation included dozens of video clips and other documents with many redactions. The Justice Department said on social media that documents include ‘untrue and sensationalist claims’ against President Donald Trump before the 2020 election.

‘To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,’ the Department of Justice added in a statement about Tuesday’s document release. ‘Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epstein’s victims.’

The president has not been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected financier who was charged with sex trafficking.

More than 150 women shared their experiences of abuse as part of an award-winning Indy Star/USA TODAY Network investigation series related to how Nassar assaulted the athletes he treated for both USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. Nassar was convicted of abusing gymnasts under the premise of giving them medical exams. Nassar’s accusers included Olympic gold medal winners such as Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman.

Epstein was charged by federal authorities with operating a sex-trafficking ring that preyed on young women and underage girls before he died in 2019.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

  • Reds pitcher Hunter Greene refutes rumors that he intentionally prolonged his injury recovery last season.
  • Greene affirmed his commitment to the Cincinnati Reds despite trade rumors and declined an invitation to the World Baseball Classic.
  • He aims to be a role model and increase the number of Black players in Major League Baseball.
  • Greene is focused on bringing a winning culture back to Cincinnati and making another postseason appearance.

MESA, AZ — Hunter Greene, donning a tan sweatsuit, a baseball cap worn backwards on his head, and flip-flops on his feet, plops down in the chair and is ready to talk.

Well, in reality, vent.

It has been two months since the Cincinnati Reds’ season ended at Dodger Stadium.

Two months since rumors began that Greene could be traded.

Two months before the Reds open spring training camp.

And two months before Greene hopes to take the mound in spring training, silence any critics, and show everyone that he’s not only one of the elite pitchers in the game, but he’s also an ultimate role model who proudly represents the rich tradition of the Reds.

In a 90-minute conversation with USA TODAY Sports, Hunter was adamant that he loves being with the Reds, doesn’t want to be traded to the New York Yankees or anyone else who has expressed interest, rejected repeated invitations from World Baseball Classic officials to remain with his teammates in spring training, and tersely dismissed any notion or narrative that he should have returned earlier from his strained right groin muscle that sidelined him for 2 ½ months last season.

‘There were some people and chatter about questioning my timing of coming back,’ Hunter said. ‘You know, like it took longer than it should have been. The idea that I was milking it, or taking a longer time, or the idea of not wanting to be with the team.

‘That was so disrespectful, so disingenuous to me.’

The idea that Greene actually wanted to be away from the team, and could have returned from the injured list earlier, he says, is ludicrous.

He was 4-2 with a 2.36 ERA in the first eight starts of the season and in the early conversation for the Cy Young Award race. He not only would be hurting his team by staying out longer than necessary, but also his own wallet. In the six-year, $53 million contract extension he signed in April, 2023, Hunter is scheduled to receive a $2 million bonus for winning the Cy Young Award, $1 million for finishing among the top three, and $500,000 for a top-10 finish. He also receives $200,000 for making the All-Star team.

So where does it make sense for him to stay on the injured list longer than necessary?

‘My mind would never let me take a break or remove myself from the team while the rest of my teammates are grinding through the season,’ says Greene, 26, who has been with the Reds since becoming their No. 1 pick in 2017. ‘I mean, let’s just talk about the pure sentiment of me signing the extension, wanting to be a Cincinnati Red, and me wanting to bring winning back to Cincinnati.

‘That was always my intention since the day I signed with the Reds, and as we talk now, I hold that same feeling.’

Besides, as the face of the organization, how in the world could he look at his teammates in the eye and take longer than necessary to return? He tried to return earlier. He originally strained his right groin May 7, returned in 15 days, and then re-injured the groin just three starts later.

Simply, he came back too early from the first soft tissue injury of his career, he says, and it backfired.

‘He thought he was ready, and tried to pitch through it, when he strained it again,’ said Nick Krall, Reds president of baseball operations. ‘Everyone wants to be available, and he did everything he could. He tried to pitch through it.

‘Then he went back on the injured list. Every injury is on its own timetable. There was certainly no frustration on our part.’

Greene, who traveled back to Arizona to work out at the Reds’ spring training facility, heard media rumblings that his return was taking too long. His MRI results were clean, so why wasn’t he back yet? Why did he need to make two additional rehab starts?

When he made his return Aug. 13 against the Philadelphia Phillies, pitching six shutout innings and giving up just three hits, he was asked by a local reporter if he needed to make amends with his teammates.

Make amends?

It wasn’t as if he just served an 80-game suspension for PED use. He wasn’t arrested for DWI. All he did was work out from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day, driving 1 ½ hours to and from the workout facility in 110-degree heat, and go back to his suburban home where he’s the youngest homeowner in the community by about 30 years.

‘This thing,’ Krall said, ‘took on a life of its own. It got so overblown. Look, I had shoulder surgery 10 weeks ago. My MRI can be as clean as it can be. But the rehab is slow.’

The truth, Hunter said, is that he checked with the Reds’ medical and training staff to determine the best course of action to receive the proper care without disrupting his teammates’ regiment. He spoke to 10 to 12 of his teammates to explain that he would be leaving for Arizona, and they gave him his blessing.

He was gone for 1 ½ months, but watched their games, kept in constant contact, and vowed to return as soon as he felt that he could be back to being Hunter Greene again. The MRI may have come back clean, but he still felt tenderness and knew he wasn’t ready.

‘I knew after I came back and my groin grabbed again,’ Greene said, ‘I had to be careful and make sure I didn’t re-injure myself or I’d be out the rest of the year. The team realized that, ‘Hey, maybe we probably rushed this a little bit too much. We need to rehab it the right way.’

‘So, the training staff, Tito (manager Terry Francona), the front office, everybody came together and communicated that we need to approach this the right way, give myself enough time to really be able to rehab it and make sure it doesn’t rear its head again.’

Could he have come back and pitched at less than 100%? Sure.

Would he have been the same dominant Hunter Greene? No.

‘Maybe people would argue that it’s better than nothing,’ Greene says, ‘but is it really? What value is that for the team? It’s like what they tell you on the airplane, if you don’t put the mask on first, how are you going to help the next person?

‘I knew the expectation was to be dominant, and I didn’t want to deliver anything less than that. I wanted to execute at the highest level. And I think was able to do that.’

Greene went 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA in eight starts after returning from the injured list, including a one-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs. The Reds won five of his starts, and needed every single one of them, earning a playoff berth on the final day of the regular season.

The Reds’ postseason lasted just 48 hours with the Dodgers blitzing Greene and the Reds 10-5 in Game 1 and 8-4 in Game 2 of the wild-card series, but the Reds finally ended their 12-year playoff drought. Now, they believe they can take the next step, vying for their first World Series appearance since 1990. They were a finalist in the Kyle Schwarber free agent sweepstakes and remain in talks with the Chicago White Sox for center fielder Luis Robert in hopes of another postseason run.

And to go where they want to go, the Reds realize they need Greene, and are simply doing their due diligence by listening to trade offers but have no intention of actually moving him.

‘Trade rumors are part of the game,’ Hunter said. ‘I can’t control any of that, especially with how social media is now with so many people having voices. People can say whatever they want now.

‘My thing is that I’m a Cincinnati Red. I love the city. I love the team, I love the potential. I’ve bought a home there. I’ve done so much philanthropy and community service in Cincinnati. I’m deeply embedded in that city.’

This commitment to the organization, Greene says, is the primary reason he declined the numerous attempts by Team USA officials to pitch in the WBC. He has represented Team USA three times as an amateur and loved the experience. Still, he believed it was important to be with his team during the entire spring. He certainly would like to pitch in the WBC, and he would be honored to pitch in the Olympics in 2028 if MLB permits big-league players to participate. But, for now, he’s got a team that needs him for a postseason sequel.

‘My priority is having a great season for the Reds,’ Greene said. ‘We got a taste of the playoffs, and I want to do it again. My mind is to be able to get back to the postseason with the Reds in 2026, and beyond. I like to see things through.

‘I would like to be able to look back one day and see the impact that I was able to have with the organization.’

Greene not only wants to make a difference in the Reds’ organization, but also for young Black players. He’s a staple in the MLB community for his volunteer work with youth programs and academies, charitable foundations, and provides two annual college scholarships from his Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles.

The Black population among Major League Baseball players has shrunk to just 6% with only one Black GM and one Black manager, with Greene hoping that his own success could open doors for young athletes to turn to baseball.

‘My ‘why’ is being able to grow the numbers of African-American players within our sport,’ Greene says, ‘or at least give the opportunity to the Black community. It’s up to the kids to want to continue to pursue baseball. But it’s clear as day. I’m 10 toes down in my ‘why.’ I think with a lot of the trials and tribulations of being a professional athlete, my ‘why’ doesn’t waver from continuing to work and make the strides that I want to make within the sport.

‘I’ve seen my impact in real time. I’ve been able to. I’ve had multiple kids come up to me and tell me, ‘I’m continuing to play this game because of the interaction that we had. Now I love the sport.’

‘This is not for show. This isn’t for an article or for the cameras. This is something that means everything to me.’

Just like winning in Cincinnati, making it one of the game’s elite franchises, once again.

‘I want to look back and know we helped create a lasting winning culture,’ Greene says. ‘Not just for the success of the franchise, but also for the city. This is the oldest team in baseball. This is where they had the Big Red Machine. This is the home of all of those Hall of Fame players.

‘This is such a great baseball town.

‘I want everybody to be able to see that again.’

Follow Bob Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

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The College Football Playoff’s first round served two competitive games and two blowouts. The reaction to that: Many fans and media types are demanding a change to the playoff bracket format.

Is that an overreaction to two lopsided games, or a worthy response? Let’s remember, last year’s playoff served up four first-round duds.

So, at least this year provided an upgrade. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

On this edition of ‘SEC Football Unfiltered,’ a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Matt Hayes weigh in on the big CFP debate — just how badly does this format require revision?

Is this CFP format worth saving?

TOPPMEYER: We must face this reality: There’s no escaping blowouts. We had blowouts in the Bowl Championship Series era. We had them in the four-team playoff era, and now in the 12-team installment. You can’t pin it all on the Group of Five, either. Even the bluest of blue bloods have gotten blown out of a playoff game.

Tinkering with the CFP format is worth considering, but that won’t change the playoff’s unfixable problem: It’s not the regular season. That’s a bug that cannot be solved.

The playoff cannot match the splendor of 50 games occurring on a fall Saturday. The season peaks in November. The playoff format can be improved, but it still won’t trump Thanksgiving rivalry week.

This playoff is what it is. What it is, is this: better than the four-team playoff but inferior to the regular season.

HAYES: Fixing the CFP bracket format isn’t hard. Here’s what you do. First, get rid of participation ribbons.

Decide your number — 12 or 16 teams, I don’t much care — and then pick the best teams, period. No charity cases. If the Group of Five produces a team that proved itself worthy of selection (see 2024 Boise State), then, by all means, it should be included in the bracket. But, we don’t need guaranteed spots for any conference.

You know what else we don’t need? Athletic directors involved in the selection process. Fire the ADs off the CFP selection committee. What business do they have choosing the playoff field? Have a combination of former coaches and media members select the field.

No automatic bids. All at-large bids. Play your way in.

Imagine if Notre Dame and Texas had been in this playoff bracket instead of Tulane and James Madison. Right there, that’s how you improve the playoff.

Not so hard, is it?

TOPPMEYER: I’m open-minded to this idea of ditching automatic bids. I’m also open to 16 teams, although I prefer sticking at 12.

The idea I like best: Get the ADs off the selection committee. Their inclusion inserts bias, or at least the illusion of bias. Plus, nobody should be juggling a coaching search and selecting a playoff field at the same time.

Later in the episode

∎ The hosts preview the quarterfinals. They examine Miami’s potential to upset Ohio State and debate whether Alabama is for real or not.

CFP quarterfinals picks against the spread!

Hayes pinch-hit for cohost John Adams on this week’s podcast episode, but Adams is still submitting his CFP picks as he tries to maintain his lead.

Toppmeyer’s CFP picks (picks in bold):

Miami vs. Ohio State (-9.5)

∎ Oregon (-1.5) vs. Texas Tech

∎ Alabama vs. Indiana (-7)

Mississippi vs. Georgia (-7)

Season record: 39-40 (2-2 last week)

Adams’ CFP picks (picks in bold):

Miami vs. Ohio State (-9.5)

∎ Oregon (-1.5) vs. Texas Tech

∎ Alabama vs. Indiana (-7)

∎ Mississippi vs. Georgia (-7)

Season record: 42-37 (1-3 last week)

Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered

  • Apple
  • Spotify
  • iHeart
  • Google

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox

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NFL power rankings entering Week 17 of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Los Angeles Rams (1): We know they just lost, their second defeat in four games … albeit a quasi-fluky one. We know they’ve fallen from the NFC’s projected No. 1 playoff seed to its sixth in a matter of days. We know they just fired their special teams coordinator − perhaps an overdue move given how that phase of the game has legitimately cost LA three wins this season. Put all that aside. The Rams still have the presumptive MVP in Matthew Stafford, a head coach as good or better than any in the league and a roster that can win anywhere in any variety of ways.

2. Seattle Seahawks (2): We know they just won, running their heater to five games. We know they’ve risen from the NFC’s projected No. 5 playoff seed to its first. We know they rarely lose playoff games in Seattle. But admirable as his career turnaround has been, we need to see QB Sam Darnold prove he can win on the big stage the way Stafford finally did after he joined the Rams.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8): They’ve won six in a row, but QB Trevor Lawrence has truly been in the zone over his last four games − with a 120.8 passer rating during that stretch while accounting for 14 TDs. The defense has also added another 10 takeaways in those four recent victories. Any number of teams could emerge from a muddled AFC field − but, after a decisive win in Denver, the Jags are certainly playing as well as anyone in the conference right now.

4. San Francisco 49ers (9): Considering they haven’t needed P Thomas Morstead this month, who needs to worry about whatever their defensive issues are? The Niners are two wins from securing the No. 1 seed, which launched them into the Super Bowl in 2019 and 2023.

8. Buffalo Bills (5): They escaped with a win … but struggling against the Browns while trying to manage QB Josh Allen’s foot injury is something to monitor even as the stars seem to be aligning elsewhere for this crew.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (12): At a time when it can’t seem to execute the ‘Tush Push,’ the offense oddly seems to be finding a groove − averaging 30 points and 386 yards, albeit against Vegas and Washington, over the past two weeks on the way to the NFC East crown.

27. Miami Dolphins (22): They looked good without Tua Tagovailoa in the lineup … but only because of their throwback uniforms.

29. Cleveland Browns (31): Bagging a Steelers quarterback, even if − especially if? − it’s old friend Mason Rudolph could be an especially satisfying way for DE Myles Garrett to set the single-season sack record.

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President Donald Trump’s newly appointed envoy to Greenland said Tuesday the administration wants to open a dialogue with residents of the territory, stressing the U.S. is not seeking to ‘conquer’ the island.

During an appearance on Fox News’ ‘The Will Cain Show,’ Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who was tapped as special envoy to Greenland by Trump on Sunday, said discussions must be had with Greenlanders to understand what they want moving forward.

‘What are they looking for? What opportunities have they not gotten? Why haven’t they gotten the protection that they actually deserve?’ Landry said.

Landry added that the U.S. ‘has always been a welcoming party,’ and that the Trump administration is not going to ‘go in there trying to conquer anybody’ or ‘take over anybody’s country.’

Landry’s comments came after Danish leaders sharply criticized Trump after he announced the appointment of the new special envoy to Greenland, a territory controlled by Denmark.

‘We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,’ Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a joint statement Monday. ‘They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.’

Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday that Landry ‘understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World.’

On Tuesday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called Trump’s comments ‘completely unacceptable,’ adding that he would summon the U.S. ambassador.

The Danish kingdom, he wrote on Facebook, is ‘sovereign and cannot accept that others question it.’

Trump has previously expressed ambitions for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, posting on Truth Social in December 2024 that ‘ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity’ for national security purposes.

In another post from January 2025, Trump said Greenland is an ‘incredible place,’ and its people will ‘benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation,’ before declaring, ‘MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!’

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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